Are you prayerfully waiting for God’s justice?
21 Apr 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
2 Samuel 1
2 Samuel 2
2 Samuel 3
Luke 18:1-17
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:2).
Are you prayerfully waiting for God’s justice?
Jesus gives a parable about praying for justice. He chooses a widow as the primary character because she lacks influence with no husband to defend her or financial means for support. Her weapon of choice to fight this battle seems rather unorthodox; she uses shameless persistence. Our Lord describes the scenario as follows: “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary’” (Luke 18:3). The verb translated “she came” refers to a continual coming in past time. In other words, she pestered the judge daily. He relents, saying, “because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me” (Luke 18:5). Jesus then compares the widow’s persistence to God’s elect who petition Him consistently for justice (Luke 18:7).
Employment Point: Boldly and persistently seek God’s justice when wronged.
—————-
Reflections
The parable of the persistent widow has always amazed me, that sometimes shameless asking can and will result in good outcomes.
Are we too shy to even ask, or afraid of rejection? The Lord has showed us that we do sometimes need to be persistent, especially in our prayers. We need to keep seeking God and His wisdom in this fallen world.
Have you experienced the kind of feeling where others just come to you to ask for things because they know you have? And because they are so shameless, you just give as they have asked. And that is exactly what the Lord is teaching us. Our Lord has the ability to give but are we bold enough to ask?
“David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. For David had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ””
2 Samuel 1:14-16 NIV
- if it were for others they may have jumped for joy and rejoice that Saul was killed. Instead David mourned for Saul. He had many opportunities to kill him, even when he was after his life but David chose to honour the Lord’s anointed.
- Who has a heart like David? Kind and honouring God in his ways. No wonder he is called the man after God’s heart.
“In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.”2 Samuel 2:1 NIV
- I really have to learn to be more like David. Inquiring of the Lord where I should go, what I should do. I’m sure the Lord will answer..
“Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?” Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.””2 Samuel 2:26-27 NIV
- sometimes all it takes is wisdom to stop more bloodshed. People fight and fight sometimes not even knowing why they fight. They fight because their friends asked them to. They had no real purpose in fighting.
- For me, this is something that I need to learn. To discern about why we are doing certain things and whether it is right in His eyes and not just following blindly what the others are doing. Really, sometimes it’s good to ask why we are doing things a certain way and not the other. Sometimes, nobody thought about it, sometimes it’s ignorance, sometimes we don’t even question why and just do what they are told, ending up confused and following blindly.
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””Luke 18:9, 13-14 NIV
- the Lord indeed looks at our hearts not who we are or even what work we do. If I may put this into perspective. If a pastor speak of boasts on how holy he is versus a prostitute who is humbled before the Lord, asking the Lord for mercy and forgiveness. We do know the prostitute is more righteous than the pastor.
- It’s no use having a holy title but the person is not even a wee bit holy.
——————
Now Don’t Hurt the Lord!
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
April 21
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” — John 14:9
Our Lord must be repeatedly astonished by us—by how un-simple we are. We complicate the simple things God shows us by adding in opinions of our own, and it is opinions of our own that lead us into confusion. When we are simple, our sight is clear, and we discern what’s before us all the time.
Philip expected the revelation of a tremendous mystery, but not in the Person who was standing before him. Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus replied, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8–9). Philip couldn’t see what was right before his eyes. He couldn’t grasp that the mystery of God lies in what is, not in what will be. Philip expected the mystery to reveal itself soon, in some cataclysmic event; he didn’t expect it now. Jesus set him right, saying in essence, “God is here now—always here, or nowhere.”
We look for God to manifest himself to his children, but God only manifests himself in his children. Others see the manifestation; the child of God does not. We want to be conscious of God, but we cannot be conscious of our consciousness and stay sane. If we are constantly asking God to give us conscious experiences, we are hurting our Lord. The very questions we ask hurt Jesus because they are not the simple questions of a child.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Am I hurting Jesus by allowing my heart to be troubled? If I believe in Jesus and his character, am I living up to my belief? Am I allowing something to disturb my heart, asking myself morbid questions? I have to get to the steadfast relationship with Jesus that takes everything he gives as it comes.
God never guides soon, always now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and his revelation is immediate.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
Defenders of the faith are inclined to be bitter until they learn to walk in the light of the Lord. When you have learned to walk in the light of the Lord, bitterness and contention are impossible.
————————-
Reflections
Each of us has a really personal experience and testimony with our Lord Jesus. Through our journey as a child of God, He has been so real to us all the time.
I can remember and look back at how my life has changed and I am sure it is for you as well. How He has turned my life around, how He has seen me through all the dark periods of my life, how He has brought about transformation to the different parts of me and my family too. Truly thankful and thank You Father for being with us and guiding us each step of the way, for never giving up on us.
We can all rest in Him with the peace that He cares and loves us much much more than we can ever imagine. Cling onto the truth that He is with us, He is never late.
Praise You Lord 🙌🏻
Let’s pray:
Father thank You for this faith, that we can call You Abba Father. Thank You Lord that we can fully rely on You for everything for You are the one who holds all things and knows all things. It is in You we can find our hope, our peace and our future. Thank You Lord. In Jesus’s name we ask and pray. Amen 🙏🏻
Comments
Post a Comment